Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Bum-Suk Lee is a leading researcher in rehabilitation robotics and assistive technology, with a primary focus on wearable robotic systems for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). His work bridges mechanical design and clinical application, most notably through the development of a compact hand exoskeleton featuring a jointless structure and under-actuation mechanism (110 citations), which addressed critical size and complexity barriers in wearable robots. Lee’s clinical impact is demonstrated by his comparative study on energy efficiency and patient satisfaction between knee-ankle-foot orthoses and the ReWalk robot (67 citations), providing evidence for robot-assisted gait in paraplegic patients. He has also pioneered upper limb robotic therapy for tetraplegic SCI, showing in a pilot randomized controlled trial (19 citations) and a larger study (32 citations) that combined robotic therapy can surpass conventional occupational therapy. His work on predictive factors for gait speed improvement after Lokomat training (16 citations) further refines rehabilitation protocols. Beyond SCI, Lee has contributed to assistive feeding robots for Korean food. His research consistently emphasizes user-centered design, clinical efficacy, and caregiver burden, making him a key figure in translating robotic innovations into tangible improvements in mobility and quality of life for people with severe physical impairments.